Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

funk, jazz, pop rock

United States

"With a commanding presence, her music pulses with a steady groove that blends rhythmic intricacy and soulful depth, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion."

Quick Start

A good place to start with Aretha Franklin is…

Spirit in the Dark

Spirit in the Dark

1970

Aretha Franklin matters not only for her unparalleled vocal prowess but for her role as a cultural icon who reshaped the landscape of soul and gospel music.
Aretha Franklin matters not only for her unparalleled vocal prowess but for her role as a cultural icon who reshaped the landscape of soul and gospel music. Her music transcended mere entertainment, becoming anthems of empowerment and social change during a pivotal era in American history. Franklin's ability to weave personal narrative into universal themes allowed her to connect deeply with listeners, forging a bond that echoed far beyond the stage. Franklin's approach to music was both visceral and spiritual, drawing from her gospel roots while embracing the rhythmic complexities of funk. She often infused her performances with a raw emotional authenticity, creating a space where joy and sorrow coexist. This unique fusion of genres enabled her to craft songs that feel both sacred and celebratory, offering a rich tapestry of sound that invites listeners to experience the full spectrum of human emotion. In her songwriting, Franklin frequently explores themes of love, resilience, and self-identity, employing a storytelling voice that ranges from confessional to declarative. Her lyrics strike a balance between sincerity and irony, reflecting the complexities of relationships and societal expectations. Each song becomes a powerful narrative that resonates with the struggles and triumphs faced by many.

Full discography

Aretha Franklin's albums in order, from earliest releases to latest.

96 releases 73 albums 1956–2017
Type:

Albums ()

A Brand New Me (Aretha Franklin album) album by Aretha Franklin

A Brand New Me (Aretha Franklin album)

2017

Amazing Grace album by Aretha Franklin

Amazing Grace

2016

Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics

2014

A Woman Falling Out of Love album by Aretha Franklin

A Woman Falling Out of Love

2011

A Deeper Love: The Best of Aretha Franklin album by Aretha Franklin

A Deeper Love: The Best of Aretha Franklin

2009

This Christmas Aretha album by Aretha Franklin

This Christmas Aretha

2008

Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen album by Aretha Franklin

Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen

2007

Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul album by Aretha Franklin

Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul

2007

So Damn Happy album by Aretha Franklin

So Damn Happy

2003

The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years album by Aretha Franklin

The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years

2002

Respect – The Very Best of Aretha Franklin album by Aretha Franklin

Respect – The Very Best of Aretha Franklin

2002

Aretha's Best album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha's Best

2001

A Rose Is Still a Rose album by Aretha Franklin

A Rose Is Still a Rose

1998

The Delta Meets Detroit: Aretha's Blues album by Aretha Franklin

The Delta Meets Detroit: Aretha's Blues

1998

Love Songs album by Aretha Franklin

Love Songs

1996

Aretha Sings Standards album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Sings Standards

1996

Greatest Hits: 1980-1995 album by Aretha Franklin

Greatest Hits: 1980-1995

1995

Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings album by Aretha Franklin

Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings

1992

What You See Is What You Sweat album by Aretha Franklin

What You See Is What You Sweat

1991

Through the Storm album by Aretha Franklin

Through the Storm

1989

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism album by Aretha Franklin

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

1987

Platoon album by Aretha Franklin

Platoon

1987

Aretha album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha

1986

Soul Survivors album by Aretha Franklin

Soul Survivors

1986

Who's Zoomin' Who? album by Aretha Franklin

Who's Zoomin' Who?

1985

First Lady of Soul album by Aretha Franklin

First Lady of Soul

1985

Never Grow Old album by Aretha Franklin

Never Grow Old

1984

Get It Right album by Aretha Franklin

Get It Right

1983

Jump to It album by Aretha Franklin

Jump to It

1982

Love All the Hurt Away album by Aretha Franklin

Love All the Hurt Away

1981

Aretha Sings the Blues album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Sings the Blues

1980

Aretha album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha

1980

La Diva album by Aretha Franklin

La Diva

1979

Almighty Fire album by Aretha Franklin

Almighty Fire

1978

Sweet Passion album by Aretha Franklin

Sweet Passion

1977

Sparkle album by Aretha Franklin

Sparkle

1976

You album by Aretha Franklin

You

1975

Let Me in Your Life album by Aretha Franklin

Let Me in Your Life

1974

With Everything I Feel in Me album by Aretha Franklin

With Everything I Feel in Me

1974

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) album by Aretha Franklin

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

1973

Young, Gifted and Black album by Aretha Franklin

Young, Gifted and Black

1972

Aretha's Greatest Hits album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha's Greatest Hits

1971

Aretha Live at Fillmore West album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Live at Fillmore West

1971

Spirit in the Dark album by Aretha Franklin

Spirit in the Dark

1970

This Girl's in Love with You album by Aretha Franklin

This Girl's in Love with You

1970

The Best of Aretha Franklin album by Aretha Franklin

The Best of Aretha Franklin

Greatest Hits: 1980–1994 album by Aretha Franklin

Greatest Hits: 1980–1994

The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970 album by Aretha Franklin

The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970

Aretha Franklin - Greatest Hits album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin - Greatest Hits

30 Greatest Hits album by Aretha Franklin

30 Greatest Hits

The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1 album by Aretha Franklin

The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1

Soft and Beautiful album by Aretha Franklin

Soft and Beautiful

1969

Soul '69 album by Aretha Franklin

Soul '69

1969

Aretha's Gold album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha's Gold

1969

Aretha in Paris album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha in Paris

1968

Aretha Now album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Now

1968

Lady Soul album by Aretha Franklin

Lady Soul

1968

Take a Look album by Aretha Franklin

Take a Look

1967

Aretha Arrives album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Arrives

1967

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You album by Aretha Franklin

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

1967

Take It Like You Give It album by Aretha Franklin

Take It Like You Give It

1967

Sweet Bitter Love album by Aretha Franklin

Sweet Bitter Love

1967

Soul Sister album by Aretha Franklin

Soul Sister

1966

Yeah!: Aretha Franklin in Person album by Aretha Franklin

Yeah!: Aretha Franklin in Person

1965

Songs of Faith album by Aretha Franklin

Songs of Faith

1965

Once in a Lifetime album by Aretha Franklin

Once in a Lifetime

1965

Runnin' Out of Fools album by Aretha Franklin

Runnin' Out of Fools

1964

Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington album by Aretha Franklin

Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington

1964

Laughing on the Outside album by Aretha Franklin

Laughing on the Outside

1963

The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin album by Aretha Franklin

The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin

1962

The Electrifying Aretha Franklin album by Aretha Franklin

The Electrifying Aretha Franklin

1962

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo

1961

The Gospel Soul of Aretha Franklin album by Aretha Franklin

The Gospel Soul of Aretha Franklin

1956

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Timeline

How their sound evolved over time

The Gospel Soul of Aretha Franklin
The Gospel Soul of A... (1956)
Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo
Aretha: With The Ray... (1961)
The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin
The Tender, the Movi... (1962)
The Electrifying Aretha Franklin
The Electrifying Are... (1962)
Laughing on the Outside
Laughing on the Outs... (1963)
Runnin' Out of Fools
Runnin' Out of Fools (1964)
Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington
Unforgettable: A Tri... (1964)
Yeah!: Aretha Franklin in Person
Yeah!: Aretha Frankl... (1965)
Songs of Faith
Songs of Faith (1965)
Once in a Lifetime
Once in a Lifetime (1965)
Soul Sister
Soul Sister (1966)
Aretha Arrives
Aretha Arrives (1967)
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
I Never Loved a Man... (1967)
Take a Look
Take a Look (1967)
Take It Like You Give It
Take It Like You Giv... (1967)
Sweet Bitter Love
Sweet Bitter Love (1967)
Aretha Now
Aretha Now (1968)
Aretha in Paris
Aretha in Paris (1968)
Lady Soul
Lady Soul (1968)
Aretha's Gold
Aretha's Gold (1969)
Soul '69
Soul '69 (1969)
Soft and Beautiful
Soft and Beautiful (1969)
Spirit in the Dark
Spirit in the Dark (1970)
This Girl's in Love with You
This Girl's in Love... (1970)
Aretha Live at Fillmore West
Aretha Live at Fillm... (1971)
Aretha's Greatest Hits
Aretha's Greatest Hi... (1971)
Young, Gifted and Black
Young, Gifted and Bl... (1972)
Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)
Hey Now Hey (The Oth... (1973)
Let Me in Your Life
Let Me in Your Life (1974)
With Everything I Feel in Me
With Everything I Fe... (1974)
You
You (1975)
Sparkle
Sparkle (1976)
Sweet Passion
Sweet Passion (1977)
Almighty Fire
Almighty Fire (1978)
La Diva
La Diva (1979)
Aretha Sings the Blues
Aretha Sings the Blu... (1980)
Aretha
Aretha (1980)
Love All the Hurt Away
Love All the Hurt Aw... (1981)
Jump to It
Jump to It (1982)
Get It Right
Get It Right (1983)
Never Grow Old
Never Grow Old (1984)
Who's Zoomin' Who?
Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985)
First Lady of Soul
First Lady of Soul (1985)
Aretha
Aretha (1986)
Soul Survivors
Soul Survivors (1986)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
One Lord, One Faith,... (1987)
Platoon
Platoon (1987)
Through the Storm
Through the Storm (1989)
What You See Is What You Sweat
What You See Is What... (1991)
Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings
Queen of Soul: The A... (1992)
Greatest Hits: 1980-1995
Greatest Hits: 1980-... (1995)
Love Songs
Love Songs (1996)
Aretha Sings Standards
Aretha Sings Standar... (1996)
A Rose Is Still a Rose
A Rose Is Still a Ro... (1998)
The Delta Meets Detroit: Aretha's Blues
The Delta Meets Detr... (1998)
Aretha's Best
Aretha's Best (2001)
Respect – The Very Best of Aretha Franklin
Respect – The Very B... (2002)
The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years
The Queen in Waiting... (2002)
So Damn Happy
So Damn Happy (2003)
Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen
Jewels in the Crown:... (2007)
Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul
Rare & Unreleased Re... (2007)
This Christmas Aretha
This Christmas Areth... (2008)
A Deeper Love: The Best of Aretha Franklin
A Deeper Love: The B... (2009)
A Woman Falling Out of Love
A Woman Falling Out... (2011)
Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics
Aretha Franklin Sing... (2014)
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace (2016)
A Brand New Me (Aretha Franklin album)
A Brand New Me (Aret... (2017)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aretha Franklin sound like?

With a commanding presence, her music pulses with a steady groove that blends rhythmic intricacy and soulful depth, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion. Rooted in funk and jazz. Start with Lady Soul.

What is the best Aretha Franklin album to start with?

The best album to start with is "Lady Soul" (1968). It's the most representative of what makes Aretha Franklin worth hearing.

Who is Aretha Franklin for?

If you're into funk and jazz, Aretha Franklin is worth your time. With a commanding presence, her music pulses with a steady groove that blends rhythmic intricacy and soulful depth, creating an atmosphere charged with emotion.

How many albums does Aretha Franklin have?

Aretha Franklin has 96 releases in their discography, including 73 albums.